Meeting March 2026

A Meeting of the Parish Council was held at The Royal Oak on Wednesday 25 March 2026 at 7.30 pm.

 

PRESENT:-   Chairman                    Cllr Graves

         Vice-Chairman            Cllr Grist (ELDC)

         Cllr:                             Mrs Molloy

         Also Present                Cllr Catton (LCC) & 2 MOP

 

Apologies were received from Mr Cartwright, Legbourne & Little Cawthorpe History Group (L&LCHG).

The Minutes of the Special and ordinary Meeting held on 14 January 2026 were approved and signed.

The Chairman had nothing to report. Vice-Chairman has obtained some stain for the wooden gates and would attend to the yew hedge where required.

 

Nothing to report due to there being no allotted Parish Council representative.

 

The Committee reported to Cllr Catton (LCC) that whilst some potholes had been fixed in January, the edges going up to the main road were collapsing and in urgent need of attention as they had fallen away resulting in a narrowing of the already narrow road and the pot hole had returned on Planting Side as you turn left into Buston Lane. Cllr Catton (LCC) will update at the next Meeting.

       5. Planning

The Committee noted the refusals by ELDC of 2 planning applications, 02494/25/FUL & 00037/26/FUL. The Clerk had not received any decision regarding: 03657/25/FUL Riverside, Mill Lane, Legbourne had been approved by ELDC. It was noted, although no plans had been received from ELDC, that the island on Wood Lane, Legbourne was to have the highway rights removed.

 

Cllr Mrs Molloy had met with the relative of Mr Bolland and they had mutually agreed a site for a tree to be planted on the John Lill Memorial Woodland Walk, the area of land is in private ownership and those owners are all in agreement for this arrangement.

 

ELDC-Electoral Register updates, LCC-E-news, ElanCity-Speed Signage, LALC-Clerks & Councils-noted.

 

             The statement of Income and Expenditure was noted which met the Council’s approval.

              L&LCCG-Yellow Pages Don £60.00           Clerk’s Salary+Box File   £390.97 +  £4 

              HMRC-PAYE                         £129.30          

               

The Committee considered the revised draft Budget/Precept and it was

 

RESOVED     i) to accept the revised Budget which included a sum of £3000.00 for Future Projects (pond improvements, handrail etc);

         ii) to accept the grass cutting quote (£919.08) from BW Maintenance for 26/27;

        iii) to keep the precept at £5100, to meet general increases, including work required to the pond improvement.

 

The Clerk had made contact with architects in respect of plans and they had responded. The Chairman reported recent access to the pond for maintenance, highlighted the fact that a platform would make future access for maintenance impractical.  The Vice-Chairman reported that there had been a change to funding allocation and it was agreed that a re-assessment be made. and it was whether a viewing area at the pond was really what the Parishioners wanted, or whether it was in keeping with the beauty of the area. The plan was to put in a dropped kerb and decking slightly over the pond, with a metal handrail to allow access for all abilities to enjoy the area.

             It was

               

            RESOLVED  to re-submit a new plan to the ELIF GRASSroots Scheme to make repairs to re-instate the fencing, plant hedging, put in new slabs and a handrail.

 

Mr Cartwright had sent his “Apologies” that he could not attend the Meeting, but had advised Members that Episode 3 had just been released.

 

The Committee noted that the original issues had been resolved. However, it was noted that there were a number of hedges along Buston Lane that required the attention of either Highways or their owners. Cllr Catton (LCC) would check to see if they were in the ownership of LCC or required the attention of their owners. It was noted that hedges, particularly along roadsides, were not permitted to extend into the highway obstructing road usage and action by the authorities could be taken.

 

The Chairman extended his appreciation to GBM, the 360 Operator and owner of the Thatched Cottage for their assistance on the day the pond improvements were carried out. This went ahead on the allocated date, despite the inclement weather. Unfortunately, to allow access for machinery, the fencing had to be taken down and a further storm following the works, required an additional entry into the pond, for some minor adjustments, to complete the works. It was noted that 135 tons of debris/weeds were removed. There had been some discussion relating to whether a pipe should/should be installed, the intention was to put dam back, as it had been, to allow water to flow naturally, along with putting the stones back, but awaiting further instruction from Highways prior to further action. There was also discussion about a permit, which the Parish Council did hold, but the Clerk is to seek further advice on this matter and report to the Committee. Members agreed that the Parishioners and visitors to the village expected to see the pond at its best and work needs to be carried out to ensure that this asset maintains its natural beauty.

 

The Vice-Chairman advised that there would be a process to go through prior to any approval. Cllr Mrs Molloy had downloaded the paperwork, from a number of Local Plans, and expressed her concern that neither other Members of the Council, nor herself, had the time to dedicate to this project without outside support. The Vice-Chairman agreed it was a massive under-taking and a sub-committee would need to be organised, parishioners would need to give time and commit to it. Cllr Mrs Molloy advised that she did not have the time, due to her own workload and doubted others with appropriate experience were either or have the necessary expertise. Cllr Catton (LCC) advised that he had attended a meeting and would make some enquiries to ascertain what support is available. The Parish Council were advised that identify areas in village plans were important (green space, habitat, etc). If there was no “growth offer”, prospects were not good. The Vice-Chairman reminded the Committee that they could only be re-active to planning applications (“small village hamlet”). It was

 

RESOLVED  to leave the item on the Agenda for the next Meeting and to try to organise a working group to clarify how to move the issue forward.

 

The Chairman advised that whilst carrying out the work at the pond, Ms Morris had expressed an interest in being co-opted on to the Parish Council. This interest was re-affirmed by Ms Morris and Members agreed that the item of “Co-option of New Members” would be put on the May Agenda. It was also hoped that any other interested Parishioners would attend expressing an interest.  All the Parish Council needed to receive prior to the next meeting was a brief resume of why a person wished to become and Parish Councillor and what knowledge and attributes they held.

 

            Wednesday 13 May 2026 (AGM) – this meeting starts at 7.00 pm.        

           

             Meeting closed 8.45 pm.